Towing device for water skis



GR 394229786 5R J. A. BRANDHORST TOWING DEVICE FOR WATER SKIS Jan. 21,1969 Filed Sept. 28, 1967 INVEN'JOR.

United States Patent 3,422,786 TOWING DEVICE FOR WATER SKIS Jack A.Brandhorst, 2335 Bunting Ave., Grand Junction, Colo. 81501 Filed Sept.28, 1967, Ser. No. 671,361 US. Cl. 114--235 Int. Cl. A63c 15/00; B63b21/56 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Specification This inventionrelates to water ski attachments, and more particularly to a towingattachment for water skis.

It is therefore the main purpose of this invention to provide a towingdevice for .water skis which will enable the novice to more quicklylearn to master water skiing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a towing device for waterskis which will have cross-bar means that will be attached to theforward end of a pair of water skis, thus keeping them together untilthe student gains confidence.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a towing device forwater skis in which a central eyebolt secured to the cross-bar memberwill receive a slip-knotted rope, a portion of the slip-knot receiving asnap hook from the tow line to the boat.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a towing devicefor water skis which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture,rugged in construction, easy to use and eflicient in operation.

These and other objects will become readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of the device shown removed fromFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of FIGURE 2 shown in elevation; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of FIGURE 3 showing thehooking arrangement of the tow line.

According to this invention, a towing device for water skis 10, isprovided with a wooden cross-bar member 11 having a bolt 12 at each endwith washers 13. Crossbar member 11 is secured to the forward portion 14of water skis 15 by means of bolts 12. Each of the skis 15 is providedwith foot placement members 16 for the water skier to place his feet.

It' will be noted that bolts 12 are secured to the forward portion 14 ofskis 15 by winged-nuts 17 which allows device 10 to be moved from skis15 when desired. A horizontal eye-bolt 18 is secured in the center ofcross-bar member 11 with a washer 19 and a nut 20. The rope 21 with aslip-knot 2 1 is passed through 3,422,786 Patented Jan. 21, 1969eye-bolt 18 and a snap hook 23 engages the loop portion 24 of rope 21,and a tow rope 25 is secured to snap hook 23 at one end and the otherend of rope 25 (not shown) is secured to the towing boat. In use,cross-bar member 11 of device is secured to the forward portion 14 ofskis by means of the bolts 12 and the nuts 17. This arrangement preventsthe water skis 15 from spreading, thus enabling the novice water skierto gain confidence and skill rapidly. When the skier is able to handlehimself with this arrangement attached to the skis 15, the device 10 maythen be removed thereupon the skis 15 may be used in a normal manner bythe skier.

It will be noted the cross-bar member 11 is varnished to protect itagainst water and device 10 is bolted on top of the water skis 15approximately one inch from the forward end of the skis 15. The slipknot 21' of rope 21 secured to handlebar 26 is easily adjusted by meansof the slip knot 21 so that the skier is in the proper standingposition. Once the rope 2-1 is pulled by the boat, it will not slip andin no way will the rope 21 be injured. The snap hook 23 may bedisengaged easily from the loop portion 24 when desired.

It shall further be noted that skis 15 after device 10 is removedtherefrom may be also used by advanced skiers.

What I now claim is:

1. A towing device for water skis comprising an gal; wood cross-bar, ofrectangular configuration, providing 30 mounting means fQ ,Q.l-- :QP,and ham? paiFofb'o'ltsafi fi ng iiuts carried by said device providingmeans of securing said device to a pair of water skis, an eye bolt andknot arrangement carried by said .ds ap qridiaahg ma-rmsatgifritha.snapsheeknqt,... a.?..l0w .rope said cross-bar member beingsecured to the forward portion of the skis by means of said bolts, andsaid bolts being received through the ends of said cross-bar, and wingnuts threaded onto said bolts thus providing means of securing saidbolts to the forward portion of said skis, said cross-bar memberpreventing the spreading of said skis apart at the forward end, enablingthe skier to rapidly learn how to water ski, a rope secured to thehandle for use by the novice skier beingknotted with a slip knot, a loopof said slip knot reeetveatfirefigtftifeeya ueu which is secured in thecenter of said cross-bar member and said loop portion received throughthe eye bolt engages the snap hook secured to the tow rope.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said slip, e at d ravewsu sdnto a d ha dle. h .fheljdmyitnfj e atar-is aa u'tasiwa lengt.shorten .its- ,lengt a pair of fasteners removably securing saidcross-bar to the forward ends of said water skis with said cross-barextending therebetween, an eye member carried by said cross-barcentrally intermediate its opposite ends and disposed between said skis,a handle, elongated flexible tension member means having one end portionsecured to the handle for use by a novice skier, the other end 3,422,7863 4 portion of said tension member means including a loop ReferencesCited received through said eye member, and a tow rope hav- UNITEDSTATES PATENTS ing fastener means on one end removably engaged with theportion of said loop inserted through said eye mem- 2194825 1 8/1960 1156-1 X her and preventing its withdrawal through said eye mem- 5311421075 7/1964 H111 her.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said loop com- TRYGVE BLIX PmmmyExamme'l' prises a portion of a slip knot formed in said flexible U S ClXR tension member means, whereby the eflective length of said tensionmember means may be adjusted by varying 1O 9310 the size of said loop.

